There is a considerable amount of conflicting evidence where detail is concerned. The Otto manuscript [13], a contemporaneous source which depicts the Regiment de marche in 1807, shows green and red piping for the first battalions of the first and second regiments respectively. Another contemporaneous source [14], however, shows white piping.

Modern authorities, such as Rigondaud, Bucquoy, Devautour, Hourtoulle and, most recently, Dempsey, discuss these apparent discrepancies, but other than speculation are unable to reconcile them. More controversial still, is the conflict between the 'Ottot artist and Suhr in the context of headgear, which is discussed below. Essentially, however, the Garde Municipale de Paris was dressed as follows in 1802.

1er Regiment. Green long-tailed habit with red collar, lapels, French cuffs and flaps, all piped in white. White turnbacks. Green shoulder straps piped red, vertical pockets in the tails piped red. Yellow metal buttons. White turnbacks. White waistcoat and breeches. Lonq black gaiters. Bicome with a red, green-tufted, pompom.

2er Regiment. Red long-tailed habit with green collar, lapels, French cuffs and flaps, ail piped white. White turnbacks. Red shoulder straps piped green, pockets piped green. Bicorne with a green, red-tuhed, pompom. Otherwise the same.

Shakos. I have not been able to discover exactly when the shako was adopted. It appears to have been introduced at approximately the same time as in the French army--generally, that is to say from approximately 1806 onwards. The shako worn by the centre companies of the Garde de Paris conformed to the Reglement 1806 and bore company coloured pompoms and the usual yellow metal lozenge-shaped front plate with the regimental number.

Grenadier Company. When the grenadier companies were formed they adopted the usual grenadier distinctions. Red fringed epaulettes were worn and a red grenade device added to the turnbacks. The bonnet a poil had a red plume, yellow metal front plate with an embossed grenade, white cords and red 'cul de singe' [15] with a superimposed white tape cross, as specified by the Reglement 1788 for grenadier companies generally.

Hourtoulle, however, says that the bonnet a poil was not used by grenadier companies on campaign. This is an interesting statement which is not borne out by the 'Otto' artist who depicts the bonnet a poll in use, apparently on campaign, in 1807. Magerand in the Bucquoy series, however, using Suhr, another contemporaneous source who shows a grenadier in Hamburg in 1807 wearing a shako with red plume and cords. [16]

Chasseur Company. The chasseur [17] companies, formed in 1806, also adopted fringed epaulettes but in green with red crescents. The turnbacks received a green hunting horn device. Unusually, the chasseurs also adopted the bonnet a poil but without front plate and with green cords and plume. Suhr again conflicts with the 'Otto' artist, however, showing a voltigeur wearing a shako with green plume and cords in Hamburg.

Voltigeur Company. The voltigeur companies formed in 1808 were apparently distinguished by minor alterations to the uniform. [18] The cords on the bonnet a poll became white and the plume yellow over green. Collars became yellow and the green fringed epaulettes received a yellow crescent. Girbal depicts the voltigeur bonnet a poil without the 'cul de singe' and Hourtoulle also mentions that the voltigeur companies also wore the shako.

In 1808 the Garde de Paris received a white uniform as follows:

1er Regiment. The first regiment was distinguished by a green collar, lapels piped white, French cuffs and turnbacks piped white. The white shoulder straps, cuff flaps and pockets in the tails were piped green. White linen trousers or breeches were worn with white or black gaiters. Grenadier distinctions were as described previously. The grenade motif on the green turnbacks was white. Voltigeur distinctions consisted of a yellow over green plume, yellow collar, green fringed epaulettes with red crescents and a white hunting horn motif on the turnbacks.

2er Regiment. Red distinctives and white piping disposed as for the first regiment as described. Grenadier distinctions as described. Voltigeur distinctions as described except that the green fringed epaulenes had yellow crescents.

EAGLES AND DRAPEAUX